Tesco and Direct Rail Services sign new deal

Tesco has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with Direct Rail Services (DRS) to continue the operations of Tesco container trains by rail until 2028.

The new agreement ensures that DRS will operate the following trains:

  • Daventry to Mossend
  • Mossend to Teesport
  • Daventry to Tilbury x 2
  • Daventry to Wentloog x 2
  • Daventry to Teesport via Doncaster
  • Mossend to Inverness
  • Daventry to Manchester

Gottfried Eymer, NTS rail director, said: “We’re very pleased to continue our long-standing work with Tesco, which has developed over the last 12 years, and demonstrates the fantastic service we provide our customers and the value rail freight can bring.

“The environmental and socio-economic benefits of using rail are well proven and we are delighted to be working with Tesco for at least another three years.

“Recently, we launched Tesco’s tenth rail freight service, removing thousands of lorries from the road and saving 6,000t CO2e per year. Rail emits 76% less CO2 when compared to road and each Tesco train takes around 40 lorries off the road.

“Every month we transport over 12,000 containers, travelling thousands of miles safely, securely and reliably to ensure vital products are available and shelves are stocked all year round across Great Britain.”